Yushan Lake Park

　　   Located in Ma'anshan. Yushan Lake is graceful and charming, surrounded by nine peaks of varying distances standing in a ring around the lake, earning it the reputation of "nine peaks encircling one lake." The scenery is beautiful and picturesque. There are roads all around the lake, trees all around the lake, and buildings all around the lake. The section along North Lake Road and near Hongqi Bridge on the lakeside is an “off-site garden” where visitors can admire the lake and mountain views. West Lake Road features the Fuyuan Trade Market, built along the lake with Ming and Qing architectural styles, and a green recreational park of nearly 20,000 square meters; South Lake Road boasts willow-lined embankments and flower-dotted dykes, with a small recreation area of nearly 10,000 square meters where water and sky blend into one, making it an ideal spot for leisure and rest.

　　   In recent years, the successively developed South Lake and North Lake street parks have dredged and expanded the Yushan Lake water system. This has not only improved the city’s flood control capacity but also added a touch of nature to the urban environment, making it an excellent place for holiday relaxation.

　　   The main features of the landscape of Yushan Lake and the South and North Lake parks are lush green lawns adorned with various trees and shrubs. Small bridges, corridors, and pavilions of different shapes guide visitors to admire lotus flowers on the water at times and enjoy the scenery from across the lake at others.

　　   A man-made small island in the large lake has become an annual habitat for migratory birds such as wild geese, gulls, and mandarin ducks.

　　   Four bustling urban streets are built around the lake. The camphor trees, ginkgo trees, winter jasmine, and plane trees planted along the roads not only enhance the beauty of Yushan Lake but also serve as the green lungs of the entire city. Throughout the year, the area offers snowy white camphor leaves and red foliage in autumn and winter; golden winter jasmine blooms in early spring as if gold is paving the ground; in summer, the bright green ginkgo leaves always bring cheerful moods, while the plane trees spread their canopies to offer patches of shade under the blazing sun.

　　   Yushan Lake, formerly known as Wā’er Táng and also called Wáwa Táng, covers a water area of 1,987 mu. To the east of the lake is Jiashan Mountain, and to the west is Yushan Mountain. The two mountains face each other, blending the lake and mountain scenery into one. Weeping willows around the lake are reflected in the water, and high-rise buildings stand in clusters, making it a scenic area in the city center. In 1959, it was turned into a park, named after the lake.

　　   Yushan Lake Park is divided into five sightseeing areas: North Garden, South Garden, West Garden, the Zoo, and the Lake Center Island. The North Garden has reached a considerable scale, with lush flowers and trees and secluded winding paths. Along the lakeshore, there are ornate pavilions, zigzagging bridges over the water, weeping willow-lined stone paths, and rugged rockeries. Fish harbors, lotus ponds, bamboo groves, corridors, and wooden pavilions are scattered throughout, arranged with just the right density. The “Fragrance Garden” in this garden is a world of flowers, where blooms are rich and vibrant, fragrant and breathtakingly beautiful. The “Three Shadows Pavilion,” built by the water, is a place for visitors to enjoy tea and rest. Climbing to the pavilion and looking into the distance, you can see rippling blue waves, dotting boats, and the reflections of green mountains, trees, and red buildings in the lake, as if you are in a fairyland. The South Garden is characterized by its tranquility, elegance, and serenity. Garden features such as the Twin Rainbow Bridge, the Unstained Pavilion, the Never-Tired Pavilion, and the Leisurely Pavilion are either dotted along the blue waters or nestled among exotic flowers and plants, each displaying its own unique charm. The three large characters “Yushan Lake” on the south gate are very eye-catching.